UNIKL blew a golden opportunity when they were held to a scoreless draw by Maybank in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League at the Tun Razak Stadium yesterday.
However the silver lining is that the University side is still unbeaten after five matches, but will have to pull up their socks against Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club today.
UniKL coach Darren Smith was not disappointed with his charges as the 3.30pm heat did play a huge factor is slowing down their game.
"For a team which ended at the bottom of the table tast season, it is quite an achievement to remain unbeaten after five matches. We did have our chances but could not convert them, and I believe the heat played a big factor in slowing down our game, and the pace suited Maybank well," said Darren.
Maybank received four penalty corners, while UniKL six but both the sides wasted their chances with weak attempts.
"I consider the draw as a good result as we hit a bad patch and lost a string of matches before this. The fact that two of my regulars had to sit out because of injuries and I fielded five newcomers in the League makes the draw a good outing," said Maybank coach Wallace Tan.
Engku Malek, a defender, and striker Hafifi Hafiz both sat out due to injuries. The new face in Maybank which showed potential yeaterday was former national skiper Sarjit Singh's son Manraj Singh.
Maybank have played six matches, but won only one, drew two and lost three.
"Our young players like Manraj have started to show potential and I hope this draw will be the turning point in our campaign," said Wallace.
In another match, Tenaga Nasional beat Nur Insafi 3-0 with goals from Amin Rahim (34th, 70th) and Faizal Saari (53rd).
Torrential rain disrupted the Kuala Lumpur HC and UiTM match after 20 minutes of play and the match will be held on another day.
RESULTS: Premier Division -- Friday: UniKL 0 Maybank 0, Nur Insafi 0 Tenaga Nasional 3, UiTm v Kuala Lumpur HC (postponed), Armed Forces-Airod 1 Yayasan Negri Sembilan 5.
SATURDAY: UniKL v Kuala Lumpur HC (4pm), Nur Insafi v Yayasan Negri Sembilan (6pm), Sapura v Tenaga Nasional (8pm), UiTM v Armed Forces-Airod (KLH Stadium, 5pm).
Note: All other matches at the Tun Razak Stadium.
Division One -- Sunday: Bukit Jalil SS v Ipoh City Council (Pantai Ministry Stadium, 5pm), Malacca CC v Bandar Pe nawar SS (Malacca Stadium, 5pm), Universiti Sains Malaysia v Armed Forces Juniors (USM, 5pm).
STANDINGS
PREMIER DIVISION
P W D L F A Pt
TNB 6 4 1 1 13 5 13
UNIKL-TRC 5 4 1 0 9 5 13
KLHC 5 4 0 1 22 10 12
NUR INSAFI 5 3 0 2 10 13 9
YNS 5 3 0 2 20 12 9
SAPURA 5 2 0 3 14 13 6
MAYBANK 6 1 2 3 4 9 5
UITM 4 0 0 4 6 15 0
ATM-AIROD 5 0 0 5 5 21 0
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
ATM JNR 3 3 0 0 8 2 9
IPOH CH 4 2 1 1 11 8 7
BJSS 3 2 0 1 7 3 6
BPSS 3 2 0 1 7 5 6
USM 5 2 0 3 8 14 6
MALACCA CC 4 1 0 3 4 6 3
UNITEN 4 0 1 3 2 9 1
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Make or break weekend for UniKL
UNIKL finished at the bottom of the pool last season, but blossomed into a title aspirant after four matches, and will get their chance to break free when they lock horns with Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League.
They will get another golden opportunity to collect points when they meet Maybank at the Tun Razak Stadium, but after that, they are likely to face a torrid time against league leaders KLHC the next day.
KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj attributed simple hockey to UniKL’s run: “They have Project 2013 players and their foreign signings are not big names, but by slaying YNS, Sapura and TNB, UniKL have shown that their brand of simple hockey is effective.”
Dharmaraj feels this weekend could make or break some teams.
“The league is still open, and I feel that there are at least four teams who can snatch the title if given a chance. That is why we need six points to keep ahead of the chasing pack,” said Dharmaraj.
As for UniKL: “Last weekend we went in thinking that four points would be good but upset the formbook and beat Sapura as well as Tenaga Nasional (both by 2-1 score lines) and it has opened up the league.
“I feel the same this weekend, and believe a total of four points against Maybank and KLHC would be a fantastic outing,” said UniKL manager Amir Azhar.
Their only ‘setback’ is that Nor Hizzat Sumantri will not play against Maybank for picking up two yellow cards.
“Other than that, we will have a full squad, and hopefully we can beat Maybank so that the players will be in a better frame of mind when they play KLHC,” said Amir.
Maybank, who last won a title in 1994, have been strug gling in the league as they drew 1-1 with defending Overall champions Tenaga Nasional and beat UiTM 2-0 but after that, they lost to Yayasan Negri Sembilan (1-4), Nur Insafi (0-2) and Sapura (0-2).
FIXTURES:
Premier Division -- Friday: UniKL v Maybank (3.30pm), Nur Insafi v Tenaga Nasional (5.15pm), UiTm v Kuala Lumpur HC (7pm), Armed Forces-Airod v Yayasan Negri Sembilan (8.45pm).
Saturday: UniKL v Kuala Lumpur HC (4pm), Nur Insafi v Yayasan Negri Sembilan (6pm), Sapura v Tenaga Nasional (8pm), UiTM v Armed Forces-Airod (KLH Stadium, 5pm).
Note: All other matches at the Tun Razak Stadium.
Division One -- Sunday: Bukit Jalil SS v Ipoh City Council (Pantai Ministry Stadium, 5pm), Malacca CC v Bandar Pe nawar SS (Malacca Stadium, 5pm), Universiti Sains Malaysia v Armed Forces Juniors (USM, 5pm).
STANDINGS
PREMIER DIVISION
P W D L F A Pt
KLHC 5 4 0 1 22 10 12
UNIKL-TRC 4 4 0 0 9 5 12
TNB 5 3 1 1 10 5 10
NUR INSAFI 4 3 0 1 10 10 9
YNS 4 2 0 2 15 11 6
SAPURA 5 2 0 3 14 13 6
MAYBANK 5 1 1 3 4 9 4
UITM 4 0 0 4 6 15 0
ATM-AIROD 4 0 0 4 4 16 0
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
ATM JNR 3 3 0 0 8 2 9
IPOH CH 4 2 1 1 11 8 7
BJSS 3 2 0 1 7 3 6
BPSS 3 2 0 1 7 5 6
USM 5 2 0 3 8 14 6
MALACCA CC 4 1 0 3 4 6 3
UNITEN 4 0 1 3 2 9 1
They will get another golden opportunity to collect points when they meet Maybank at the Tun Razak Stadium, but after that, they are likely to face a torrid time against league leaders KLHC the next day.
KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj attributed simple hockey to UniKL’s run: “They have Project 2013 players and their foreign signings are not big names, but by slaying YNS, Sapura and TNB, UniKL have shown that their brand of simple hockey is effective.”
Dharmaraj feels this weekend could make or break some teams.
“The league is still open, and I feel that there are at least four teams who can snatch the title if given a chance. That is why we need six points to keep ahead of the chasing pack,” said Dharmaraj.
As for UniKL: “Last weekend we went in thinking that four points would be good but upset the formbook and beat Sapura as well as Tenaga Nasional (both by 2-1 score lines) and it has opened up the league.
“I feel the same this weekend, and believe a total of four points against Maybank and KLHC would be a fantastic outing,” said UniKL manager Amir Azhar.
Their only ‘setback’ is that Nor Hizzat Sumantri will not play against Maybank for picking up two yellow cards.
“Other than that, we will have a full squad, and hopefully we can beat Maybank so that the players will be in a better frame of mind when they play KLHC,” said Amir.
Maybank, who last won a title in 1994, have been strug gling in the league as they drew 1-1 with defending Overall champions Tenaga Nasional and beat UiTM 2-0 but after that, they lost to Yayasan Negri Sembilan (1-4), Nur Insafi (0-2) and Sapura (0-2).
FIXTURES:
Premier Division -- Friday: UniKL v Maybank (3.30pm), Nur Insafi v Tenaga Nasional (5.15pm), UiTm v Kuala Lumpur HC (7pm), Armed Forces-Airod v Yayasan Negri Sembilan (8.45pm).
Saturday: UniKL v Kuala Lumpur HC (4pm), Nur Insafi v Yayasan Negri Sembilan (6pm), Sapura v Tenaga Nasional (8pm), UiTM v Armed Forces-Airod (KLH Stadium, 5pm).
Note: All other matches at the Tun Razak Stadium.
Division One -- Sunday: Bukit Jalil SS v Ipoh City Council (Pantai Ministry Stadium, 5pm), Malacca CC v Bandar Pe nawar SS (Malacca Stadium, 5pm), Universiti Sains Malaysia v Armed Forces Juniors (USM, 5pm).
STANDINGS
PREMIER DIVISION
P W D L F A Pt
KLHC 5 4 0 1 22 10 12
UNIKL-TRC 4 4 0 0 9 5 12
TNB 5 3 1 1 10 5 10
NUR INSAFI 4 3 0 1 10 10 9
YNS 4 2 0 2 15 11 6
SAPURA 5 2 0 3 14 13 6
MAYBANK 5 1 1 3 4 9 4
UITM 4 0 0 4 6 15 0
ATM-AIROD 4 0 0 4 4 16 0
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
ATM JNR 3 3 0 0 8 2 9
IPOH CH 4 2 1 1 11 8 7
BJSS 3 2 0 1 7 3 6
BPSS 3 2 0 1 7 5 6
USM 5 2 0 3 8 14 6
MALACCA CC 4 1 0 3 4 6 3
UNITEN 4 0 1 3 2 9 1
Monday, January 10, 2011
Fungus at every level
ARTIFICIAL hockey pitches are still a luxury in Malaysia even though they were introduced in early 1970s, and with the first Olympic Games on this surface being held at the 1976 Montreal edition.
There are less than 20 synthetic hockey pitches, which are in working order, and the number is fast dwindling because nobody seem to care about them.
Last weekend’s Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) Premier Division matches were played at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh so that fans from the Silver State could watch some top action at their doorsteps.
But what a tragedy it turned out to be because when teams arrived days before the weekend fixtures, they found out to their horror that almost the entire surface of itch I and II were covered with black fungus.
The Stadium, named after a former MHF president, were laid barely two years ago for the Azlan Shah Cup but lack of use and poor maintenance is slowly destroying its surface.
Workers tried to wash the surface but it was of little help as players slipped and fell more than they should, and coaches fumed as their well laid plans turned as rotten as the pitch.
The Azlan Shah Stadium is out of bounds for schools as well as club teams, for reasons only known by those running the stadium, and the Premier Division players were left with a bad taste in their mouth, as well as a bag-full of black fungi stuck to their boots, attire and hockey sticks which followed them back home to Kuala Lumpur.
Another pitch that is going to meet the same fate is the newly laid Ministry of Education synthetic pitch in Jalan Pantai, Kuala Lumpur.
The Ministry only allows schools, and recently the national men’s team were allowed to train there on a special MoU. Even university sides, leave alone clubs, are not allowed to make their bookings and this was evident when Universiti Sains Malaysia and UniTen had to play at the adjacent Kuala Lumpur HA pitch on Sunday while the Ministry’s pitch only had crows circling it.
The KLHA pitch is probably the most overused in the country as bookings are full from Am to PM, but is still looks like brand new after six years because of the proper care that it gets.
Now for the icing.
Both the artificial pitches at the Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium were stripped when work started in May last year.
But up till today, there is hardly any progress at both the dug-up pitches as fingers are pointed at every direction for the delay.
And, MHF official believe both the pitches will not even be ready by the end of this year, and that is why the national men’s team have started training at the Ministry’s pitch while the MHF secure the playing rights to the Tun Razak Stadium.
The Petaling Jaya Municipal Council, as well as three pitches up north, one in the East Coast and one in Johor Baru have also crumbled or are only breeding fungi, instead of talent for the nation.
There are less than 20 synthetic hockey pitches, which are in working order, and the number is fast dwindling because nobody seem to care about them.
Last weekend’s Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) Premier Division matches were played at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh so that fans from the Silver State could watch some top action at their doorsteps.
But what a tragedy it turned out to be because when teams arrived days before the weekend fixtures, they found out to their horror that almost the entire surface of itch I and II were covered with black fungus.
The Stadium, named after a former MHF president, were laid barely two years ago for the Azlan Shah Cup but lack of use and poor maintenance is slowly destroying its surface.
Workers tried to wash the surface but it was of little help as players slipped and fell more than they should, and coaches fumed as their well laid plans turned as rotten as the pitch.
The Azlan Shah Stadium is out of bounds for schools as well as club teams, for reasons only known by those running the stadium, and the Premier Division players were left with a bad taste in their mouth, as well as a bag-full of black fungi stuck to their boots, attire and hockey sticks which followed them back home to Kuala Lumpur.
Another pitch that is going to meet the same fate is the newly laid Ministry of Education synthetic pitch in Jalan Pantai, Kuala Lumpur.
The Ministry only allows schools, and recently the national men’s team were allowed to train there on a special MoU. Even university sides, leave alone clubs, are not allowed to make their bookings and this was evident when Universiti Sains Malaysia and UniTen had to play at the adjacent Kuala Lumpur HA pitch on Sunday while the Ministry’s pitch only had crows circling it.
The KLHA pitch is probably the most overused in the country as bookings are full from Am to PM, but is still looks like brand new after six years because of the proper care that it gets.
Now for the icing.
Both the artificial pitches at the Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium were stripped when work started in May last year.
But up till today, there is hardly any progress at both the dug-up pitches as fingers are pointed at every direction for the delay.
And, MHF official believe both the pitches will not even be ready by the end of this year, and that is why the national men’s team have started training at the Ministry’s pitch while the MHF secure the playing rights to the Tun Razak Stadium.
The Petaling Jaya Municipal Council, as well as three pitches up north, one in the East Coast and one in Johor Baru have also crumbled or are only breeding fungi, instead of talent for the nation.
Happy-sad moment for Selvaraju
S. SELVARAJU, 25, gave his best against Tenaga Nasional in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League on Saturday, and instead of jubilation, ended up with mixed feelings.
Selvaraju, a former international who was dropped after he went to France to playn his trade and gain experience, was started his career with the TNB Junior Hockey League side and then graduated to their senior outfit.
But this season, he moved to UniKL, and his new home beat TNB 2-1 at the Azlan Shah Stadium.
“I gave my very best, like in all the matches I play, and of course was happy when we beat a strong TNB outfit, but there was also a tinge of sadness because I grew up with them,” said Selvaraju.
Selvaraju attributes the upset to the many young players in UniKL as well as their New Zealand coach Darren Smith.
“Our coach told us from the beginning that we will be put through drills not to prepare for the MHL, but for an international standard tournament.
“With that in our mindset, everybody worked like we were going to play in a world cup or Olympics, and it has done wonders to our attitude as well as fitness level,” said Selvaraju.
UniKL are tied on 12 points with Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club, but they have played one match less.
When asked about the 11 players who are below 20 in his side: “They are eager to learn and easy to communicate with. And they not only listen to the coach but also the seniors in the side when their mistakes are pointed out.
“I believe this is the best bunch of mates I have had for a long time, as every one is eager to learn and then give their best in matches.
“Personally speaking, I would like to see UniKL at the top of the podium, but it is only going to get tougher after our last win against TNB,” said Selvaraju.
Selvaraju, a former international who was dropped after he went to France to playn his trade and gain experience, was started his career with the TNB Junior Hockey League side and then graduated to their senior outfit.
But this season, he moved to UniKL, and his new home beat TNB 2-1 at the Azlan Shah Stadium.
“I gave my very best, like in all the matches I play, and of course was happy when we beat a strong TNB outfit, but there was also a tinge of sadness because I grew up with them,” said Selvaraju.
Selvaraju attributes the upset to the many young players in UniKL as well as their New Zealand coach Darren Smith.
“Our coach told us from the beginning that we will be put through drills not to prepare for the MHL, but for an international standard tournament.
“With that in our mindset, everybody worked like we were going to play in a world cup or Olympics, and it has done wonders to our attitude as well as fitness level,” said Selvaraju.
UniKL are tied on 12 points with Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club, but they have played one match less.
When asked about the 11 players who are below 20 in his side: “They are eager to learn and easy to communicate with. And they not only listen to the coach but also the seniors in the side when their mistakes are pointed out.
“I believe this is the best bunch of mates I have had for a long time, as every one is eager to learn and then give their best in matches.
“Personally speaking, I would like to see UniKL at the top of the podium, but it is only going to get tougher after our last win against TNB,” said Selvaraju.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Army Juniors march on
ARMED Forces Juniors consolidated their grip when they beat Malacca City Council 2-1 in Division One of the Malaysia Hockey League yesterday.
The Army juniors remain unbeaten after three matches, and are followed closely by Ipoh City Council who beat Bandar Penawar Sports School 3-0 to be placed second on seven points.
In another match yesterday, Universiti Sains Malaysia beat UniTen 1-0 with the winner scored by Razak Saidin in the 14th minute.
Army took the lead off Rahimie Razak in the 11th minute only to see Faizal Maadun equalise for Malacca CC in the 15th minute. The winner was delivered by Shukri Aziz in the 35th minute.
Ipoh collected maximum points with a concerted push in the first half which saw Azam Azman (seventh), Jasdev Singh (30th) and Mohamed Noor Saad sounding the board.
RESULTS: Ipoh CC 3 Bandar Penawar Sports School 0, ATM Jnrs 2 Malacca CC 1, UniTen 0 Universiti Sains Malaysia 1.
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
ATM JNR 3 3 0 0 8 2 9
IPOH CH 4 2 1 1 11 8 7
BJSS 3 2 0 1 7 3 6
BPSS 3 2 0 1 7 5 6
USM 5 2 0 3 8 14 6
MALACCA CC 4 1 0 3 4 6 3
UNITEN 4 0 1 3 2 9 1
The Army juniors remain unbeaten after three matches, and are followed closely by Ipoh City Council who beat Bandar Penawar Sports School 3-0 to be placed second on seven points.
In another match yesterday, Universiti Sains Malaysia beat UniTen 1-0 with the winner scored by Razak Saidin in the 14th minute.
Army took the lead off Rahimie Razak in the 11th minute only to see Faizal Maadun equalise for Malacca CC in the 15th minute. The winner was delivered by Shukri Aziz in the 35th minute.
Ipoh collected maximum points with a concerted push in the first half which saw Azam Azman (seventh), Jasdev Singh (30th) and Mohamed Noor Saad sounding the board.
RESULTS: Ipoh CC 3 Bandar Penawar Sports School 0, ATM Jnrs 2 Malacca CC 1, UniTen 0 Universiti Sains Malaysia 1.
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
ATM JNR 3 3 0 0 8 2 9
IPOH CH 4 2 1 1 11 8 7
BJSS 3 2 0 1 7 3 6
BPSS 3 2 0 1 7 5 6
USM 5 2 0 3 8 14 6
MALACCA CC 4 1 0 3 4 6 3
UNITEN 4 0 1 3 2 9 1
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